Degree:

B.S. Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology; UC Davis 2019

Research Interests:

I grew up in the Sacramento- San Joaquin Delta, where I developed a deep appreciation for endemic fish species and conservation. Since joining the lab, I have worked on characterizing physiological responses to temperature, turbidity, handling, and predation stress in juvenile and larval Delta smelt, and juvenile longfin smelt. I have also spent extensive time on biotelemetry projects tracking Chinook salmon migration through the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, Putah Creek, and the Delta. With these projects we hope to understand the impacts of current habitat conditions and anthropogenic influences on endemic species.

I am now a Master’s student advised by Dr. Nann Fangue, and Dr. Andrew Rypel. My current research is focused on promoting juvenile Chinook salmon habitat by developing a practice standard for Central Valley rice farms. With a team, I will be rearing juvenile salmon on functional rice fields and tracking their migration to the ocean. Within this project I will be looking at comparative growth rates, behavior, and the relative risk of rearing in rice fields.

Presentations:

Biefel, F., Pasparakis, C., Wampler, A., Cocherelle, D.E., Connon, R.E., Fangue, N.,…& Todgham, A.E. Vulnerability of Longfin Smelt to changes in turbidity and warming: a physiological perspective. In 11th Biennial Bay-Delta Science Conference. DSC. 2021

Pasparakis, C., Cocherelle, D.E., Wampler, A., Connon, R.E., Fangue, N.,& Todgham, A.E. Characterizing the Stress Response in Juvenile Delta Smelt. In 11th Biennial Bay-Delta Science Conference. DSC. 2021

Xiong, W., Tallman, R., Buttner, P., Colby, J., Cocherell, D. E., Jeffres, C., … & Rypel, A. Inequality in Growth and Body Size of Juvenile Chinook Salmon in Central Valley Managed Floodplains. In American Fisheries Society 150th Annual Meeting. AFS. 2020